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| Amazon says that I'm the second-bestselling British author. To be honest, Lee is only ahead of me because he sells so many in the US! (from FaceBook Wall!!) |
Nightfall
There's been books and even one popular song about deals with the Devil, but Stephen Leather twisted that in an even more sinister way in Nightfall--a man chose to make a deal for "his son's" soul as opposed to his own! I must admit that I had some hesitancy in beginning since this type of horror novel can get very gruesome...
However, what actually happened is that the main character was so professionally experienced that he seemed able to approach the situation just as if it were a case. He immediately started to investigate, research and consider all options! For me, I was thankful that the horror became secondary; and what the author's choice in creating this character as he did was to actually transfer the novel into a mystery thriller that pulled me right in and kept me turning page after page to see what would happen. And the ending was perfect!
Out March 20th - you can pre-order NOW!
Jack Nightingale had lived a normal life, respected as a professional police negotiator until his last case. He had been called to try to talk a young child down from jumping and as he talked with her, he thought he was being successful since he got her to tell him that her father had been abusing her... But then suddenly she just jumped and he had been unable to stop her. It was the second phase of this case, though, that had resulted in his leaving his position.
Jack had gone to confront the girl's father. But while there, her father jumped or was pushed from the window...
Of course there was no evidence to explain what had happened and Jack was not talking. In reality, he only remembered one thing--the man had turned to him and said "You're going to hell, Jack Nightingale..." Of course everybody thought Jack had pushed him and most felt that the man deserved it and that Jack was a hero. But his reputation could not sustain through the "possibility" though he was never charged.
Two years later, Jack had begun his own private investigation office, living close to the bone from case to case when he was contacted by a lawyer who explained that his father had died and he had inherited all of his estate. Of course, Jack felt it was a mistake--he had been adopted, but his parents had never told him he was not their biological son... Jack had also begun having weird dreams...
Cutting to the chase, Jack learned that his father had made a deal for his son so that he would have a wealthy financially successful life, which he'd had. But when Jack first went into the mansion which was now his, all of the furniture, paintings, etc. were gone. He learned that his father had begun selling everything to buy books--books on magic, witchcraft, demonology... Had he been trying to get out of the deal?
The investigation and research conducted by Jack is fascinating as he delves into what his father had done when he was born, what he'd done as he was near death, and as Jack's birthday approached. Jack's soul was due on his 33rd birthday... He realized that the deal must be true, because whenever he tried to discover more from his family or others, they were already dead by the time he reached them!
I enjoyed the comment on Leather's Facebook Wall, about Lee Child selling so many books here in U.S. and that is why he's second best-selling author in the U.K. As we learn more about him and read more of his books, like Nightfall, I am sure he will begin to be more in competition with Child! Highly Recommend--I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
About the Author
Stephen Leather was a journalist for more than ten years on newspapers such as The Times, the Daily Mail and the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong. Before that, he was employed as a biochemist for ICI, shovelled limestone in a quarry, worked as a baker, a petrol pump attendant, a barman, and worked for the Inland Revenue. He began writing full time in 1992. His bestsellers have been translated into more than ten languages. He has also written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock and the BBC's Murder in Mind series. You can find out more from his website, www.stephenleather.com.
Book Received Via
Wunderkind PR
GABixlerReviews
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